This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7035677.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Hand over shoot-to-kill reports' | 'Hand over shoot-to-kill reports' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Controversial reports into alleged "shoot-to-kill" deaths should be released by the chief constable, a senior coroner has said. | |
| John Leckey has formally requested that Sir Hugh Orde hand over the Stalker and Sampson reports into security force killings for the inquests to proceed. | John Leckey has formally requested that Sir Hugh Orde hand over the Stalker and Sampson reports into security force killings for the inquests to proceed. |
| He was speaking at a preliminary inquest into the deaths, which took place more than 25 years ago. | He was speaking at a preliminary inquest into the deaths, which took place more than 25 years ago. |
| Previous inquests into the killings have been abandoned. | Previous inquests into the killings have been abandoned. |
| Mr Leckey said he could see no reason why the reports could not now be released to him. | Mr Leckey said he could see no reason why the reports could not now be released to him. |
| The inquests are into the November 1982 deaths of IRA men Sean Burns, Eugene Toman and Gervaise McKerr near Lurgan, County Armagh. | The inquests are into the November 1982 deaths of IRA men Sean Burns, Eugene Toman and Gervaise McKerr near Lurgan, County Armagh. |
| Police fired 109 bullets into the car they were travelling after they claimed it crashed through a checkpoint. | Police fired 109 bullets into the car they were travelling after they claimed it crashed through a checkpoint. |
| It later emerged the three were suspected of involvement in the killings of three RUC officers in a bomb a fortnight earlier and had been under observation. | It later emerged the three were suspected of involvement in the killings of three RUC officers in a bomb a fortnight earlier and had been under observation. |
| 'Repercussions of disclosure' | 'Repercussions of disclosure' |
| Mr Leckey also plans inquests into the death of Catholic teenager Michael Tighe, shot dead by police at a hay shed near Craigavon, County Armagh in November 1982, and suspected INLA men Roddy Carroll and Seamus Grew, shot dead near Armagh in December 1982. | Mr Leckey also plans inquests into the death of Catholic teenager Michael Tighe, shot dead by police at a hay shed near Craigavon, County Armagh in November 1982, and suspected INLA men Roddy Carroll and Seamus Grew, shot dead near Armagh in December 1982. |
| The coroner told Tuesday's hearing he was asking the legal representatives of the PSNI "to confirm that I, my team and Mr Stalker and his team will be provided with access to the Stalker Report and that I, my team and Sir Colin Sampson will be provided with access to the Sampson Report". | The coroner told Tuesday's hearing he was asking the legal representatives of the PSNI "to confirm that I, my team and Mr Stalker and his team will be provided with access to the Stalker Report and that I, my team and Sir Colin Sampson will be provided with access to the Sampson Report". |
| John Stalker was brought in to investigate | John Stalker was brought in to investigate |
| Following a recent High Court ruling on another alleged "shoot to kill" death, Mr Leckey said: "I see no reason why I should not now be provided with access to both reports." | Following a recent High Court ruling on another alleged "shoot to kill" death, Mr Leckey said: "I see no reason why I should not now be provided with access to both reports." |
| A lawyer for the PSNI said Sir Hugh had yet to form an opinion on whether the reports could in fact be handed over. | A lawyer for the PSNI said Sir Hugh had yet to form an opinion on whether the reports could in fact be handed over. |
| He said "an investigation of the repercussions of disclosure" was being undertaken. | He said "an investigation of the repercussions of disclosure" was being undertaken. |
| "The chief constable has not yet made a decision about the need for disclosure," he said. | "The chief constable has not yet made a decision about the need for disclosure," he said. |
| The lawyer said he would be in a position by the start of December to advise Mr Leckey on a decision. | The lawyer said he would be in a position by the start of December to advise Mr Leckey on a decision. |
| However, the coroner warned he would be likely to challenge a refusal through the High Court. | However, the coroner warned he would be likely to challenge a refusal through the High Court. |
| The government has always denied any "shoot-to-kill" policy existed and has resisted calls from families to look again at what happened. | The government has always denied any "shoot-to-kill" policy existed and has resisted calls from families to look again at what happened. |
| Former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir John Stalker was brought in to investigate. He was later replaced by Colin Sampson, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. | Former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir John Stalker was brought in to investigate. He was later replaced by Colin Sampson, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. |